The five of them stand at the school gates, Link stood with his arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently, still under his forced vow of silence

Midna sighs "Come on! Where's Ghirahim? I hate just standing, waiting around!"

Fi looks up, smiling "You know, if we converse, it will create the illusion of time going faster"

"With you, I highly doubt it" Midna mumbles, rolling her eyes

Suddenly Groose pipes up; pointing down the road "It doesn't matter anyway! Ghirahim's here!"

Link begins to silently celebrate as Ghirahim swaggers towards the group, red cape floating majestically in the wind

Zelda raises her eyes brows, extending her palm out to him expectantly "The ring, Ghirahim?"

"Of course" He smiles smugly, he slips the ring off his finger and places it in Zelda's perfect palm "How've you been eh Link?" He laughs

Zelda sighs, putting the ring onto her own finger "I wish Link could talk again"

And just like that, Link smiles, the ability of speech his once again "Thank-you, so much! Do any of you have drink? I'm so thirsty!"

Fi rummages in her bag, handing him her blue glass bottle, filled with water from the fountain atop Eldin Volcano. Link glugs down the whole bottle, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, before handing the now empty bottle back to Fi as the group of teenagers make their way into the school, just as a loud, hollow ringing is heard, the large golden bell being struck on the top of the school tower

Zelda looks up, deep in thought "Come on, we'd all better get going"

Midna sidles up to Zelda sheepishly "Zelda… I forgot… what do we have first?"

"Horse riding with instructor Fado. Hey Link, you're still ok with me using Epona right?"

Link smiles "Yeah sure, of course"

"Great! I'll see you all later" Zelda replies with a smile, she leans in, quickly giving Link a kiss on the cheek before her and Midna run off together


"Ok" Instructor Fado says, taking to his feet, arms crossed, seemingly much more authoritive than his usual, laid back self "Today, you'll be doing a test"

"Yes!" Midna whispers to Zelda "I always win when we race the horses!"

"But, I'm afraid to say this test is not of physical ability! Today… is all about theory! I have set up the barn like an exam hall and you shall sit a written theory paper on the teqnique of horse riding and how best to care for your horse!"

"What!" Midna complains, a little too loudly

"Problem, Midna?" Instructor Fado asks, turning to directly stare at Midna

"No… sorry sir…" Midna mumbles

"Anyway!" Instructor Fado continues discussing the rules of the test to a group of disappointed young students, until a nervous arm raises from the crowd, the instructor turns to look at Fledge

"With all due respect sir… shouldn't you give us time to revise for a written test?"

"Excuse me Mr Fledge? Are you talking back to me?"

Fledge stands, shaking, nervous as ever "No… sorry sir… please ignore everything I just said…"

Instructor Fado turns away, leading the class to the barn, set out with boring, strategic rows of chairs and tables, Zelda takes a seat, butterflies flocking in her tummy, this wasn't fair! She hadn't had the time to prepare; if she failed this her father would be so disappointed in her… Instructor Fado lays the test paper out in front of her and she pulls out her best quill, and as she does, the glimmering golden ring on her finger catches her eye, creating a wondering thought in her mind, what if she wished on the ring? Would that be cheating? I mean… it couldn't be, it wasn't like she was reading answers, and it would still be her own thoughts, ok, so maybe she wouldn't wish she could do really well… she'd just wish it was a paper with questions she could easily answer… that way she was doing nothing wrong right?

"I wish the paper is easy…"

"Ok" Says instructor Fado, looking at his watch "You may now begin"

Zelda flips her paper open, smiling, somehow more confident


Ghirahim and Groose settle down at their seats in their ancient history classroom. The class all loudly talking whilst waiting for their teacher to arrive

Ghirahim grins, flicking his glossy hair "So Groose, little birdy told me and interesting rumour about you?"

Groose pauses for a moment, raising one eyebrow "Oh?"

"Yeah!" Ghirahim smiles, carefully finger and thumbing his sparkling silver quill

Groose sits in silent anticipation, awaiting Ghirahim to spill the news, but he just sits smiling, enjoying the mental torture

"Well…?" Groose asks, becoming impatient

Ghirahim smiles a thin smile "Oh, just… I hear you've got your heart set on a certain maiden…"

Groose shuffles on his stool, trying to maintain his cool, how did Ghirahim know that? It can't be that bad, maybe he's getting ahead of himself, he's probably got the wrong girl "What? Oh… who's that then?"

"Ooooh…" Ghirahim sucks the air in through his teeth, playing his cards very carefully "See I could say that, but I don't want anyone else to know, see this young lady is already taken"

Groose says nothing, running has hands through his flaming red hair, attempting to pat it back into place "Nah, I'm cool just being me, I'm not into being a couple at the moment…" He says, not making eye contact

"Sure" says Ghirahim, nodding ironically. He holds his balled hand up to his mouth, coughing to cover his words "Zelda!"

"What did you say"? Groose asks, turning to look at Ghirahim in shock

"Oh nothing!" Ghirahim says innocently "I've just got a sore throat" He smiles, facing forward, coughing again "Zelda!"

"Who told you that?" Groose asks, stunned

Ghirahim just laughs "No one had to tell me! It's so obvious! But she's with Link… what are you going to do?" He asks, tormenting him in sarcastic tones

Groose sighs "Nothing, Link's my best mate; I'm not going to screw him over…"

"Shame…" Ghirahim mumbles "I love drama"


"No!" Fi asks, shocked

"Yup" Ghirahim says, not even looking Fi in her pale blue eyes, too occupied throwing peeled grapes into his mouth

"Are you sure?" She says, leaning closer

"Yup"

"He told you?"

"As good as"

"I can't believe it!" Fi exclaims "Groose has a crush on Zelda… but what about Link?"

"He doesn't have a clue" Ghirahim mumbles, still preoccupied with grapes

"Ouch… that's going to hurt"

"Yup, broken hearts, yadda yadda poor boy whatever, can we just go?"

"Sure" Fi says, smiling "I've never met a boy who loves shopping so much!"